Words from the Creator

Weds 21 2020 Updates; Tribute; Lore; Adaptation; Thanks

Updates

Weds Oct 21 8:29pm – I got my studio desk prepared *. After moving my easel back in front of the pc monitor, I noticed, the Sideshow Collectible Premium format statue box, from Austrailia – containing Cheetah- (DC comics) was taking up the space where I normally sit on a stool.

I cooked for the week, including food for my 11 year old labrador husky:

I made the order for an original Jose Delbo page used in Supergirl ( 1984) Choose your own adventure. A book I had when I was 7 years old – from the Troll book order form; at the time, I my parents had been relatively frugal, and I probably re-read that book a thousand times. To have a piece of original art is very meaningful to me; in that I can be both caretaker for the piece of history; and with the original piece, I can study the full size art ( which is reduced for publication).

Some ideas, of opportunities, for unique projects, I can create, with my equipment and original art: using the architect’s light box I got last year, I can ‘trace’ onto a fresh sheet of bristol, and then look at the original, to try to ink it ( as well as study draw it ‘without tracing’); and create colored versions and variations ( a I did with the Witch Blade piece; to describe potential redrawing combo ideas). The original publication, did not have colored pages; so it would be something fresh, to digitally colorize, a hi-res scan from the original art.

All of these pieces of original mainstream art ( vintage GGA, pre-code, figures, premium statues, and animation cels) are acquired, to bolster this art endeavor to be supported by (in the long run) as many possible income streams, related to studio art, as I can imagine; enabling the Lurid Max project to have time and resources to be the best possible content I can conceive of; both as idea, and as art.

I have made a deal for 5 Al Rio pieces, that should be completed by the end of the week; and picked out 3 George Perez pieces. Which is all I am interested in ordering for now. I have had to use some ingenuity to find space to properly display, store and have access to all the items, for drawing references, that I have acquired. The new Cheetah statue is larger than I expected, inspiring quality. Looking forward to getting the led lights installed for the display case, and setting up the first of 4 Sideshow Collectible premium/exclusive statues ( including, Huntress, Batgirl, Poison Ivy; chosen, because the models had poses, physiques, and/or expressions, that would make great studies, in 3-d, with various lighting – to redraw)

* ( I had set up my gaming pc, and the museum room, for my visiting guest – to help them feel welcome; installing overwatch; disabling the Windows Defender on Windows 10 temporarily, was the only way to get the game to install.**

**Interesting, that his friend, a computer programmer, and army veteran, couldn’t figure out how to install Overwatch from Blizzard***, and finally gave up.

***( It took me about 8 hours, and about the 40th thing I tried, worked; by trial and error, I deduced what I thought might be a recent windows update, affecting the settings somewhere in the firewall).

Tues Oct 20 (11:22pm – 12:29am)

I accomplished alot of tasks*; my visiting guest has left, I plan to do studio art tomorrow, and update either tomorrow or in a few days.

* I made the effort, to acquire ( what is sort of a grail, for me), 5 pcs of original art by Al Rio, whose work is featured by many publishers over the years: Image, Xenoscope, among others. A legendary Brazilian artist ( also the money goes to help his family in Brazil). I first discovered his work in Gen-13 ( Image) in the 1990’s, and during 2000’s, in a Christopher Hart How to Draw book, purchased for me by a music entertainment publisher ( cd covers) who commissioned pieces from me while I was in under grad.

I developed ( 4 plus pages , single spaced: dialogue, story outline, plot summary) the narrative ( for potential voice actress reads) for some scenes, based on an animation I discovered the other day*.

*when I spent the last three hours of a long day of physical labor, looking through galleries, to see the latest works by freelance artists in related genres ( ie, . DA, pivix, and nsfw galleries,..ect,.. got alot of ideas, for finished, colored pieces; costumes, and sequences. It helps keep in perspective, the lurid subject, and the viewer experience, to get an idea how to prioritize studio time, to keep the balance, with world building art, brands, and the lurid art. )

I sent a message to the top voice actress, giving an ETA for the script ( with broadcast rights for 700 words- Zaydimar; with extended sections I haven’t published here or anywhere yet.) I begin brainstorming, brand and video game menu/navigation – quest optional outcome specific dialogue*. I would like to complete this script and have her read it as soon as I can finish it.

*( I have written 1,000’s of words- now I need to go through it, and separate narrative that would be ideal for her to read; from dialogue, a separate, voice actress can read: saving key dialogue, emotes, brand tag lines, trailer phrases for the top actress; and long descriptive narratives, for other actresses.

For anyone tuning it recently, this “Coming Soon” page, ( and the link to the “Coming Soon Archives” at the bottom) give links to all the new posts ( whereas, the Clandestine menu, has some locked weeks – which I consider not finished yet; lacking video clips, or otherwise).

I plan to eventually move long word passages from the Coming soon blog feed, so that the image links are more readily found. I look forward to start using the new drawing references I’ve acquired ( original art from famous mainstream artists; premium statues; posable 6th scale figures, ect).

The direction I want to take my studio time – what I am working to accomplish: a) “finished pieces” that represent my characters/story ( such that I could hand the pages to someone, and they would understand the content; ie. if I handed a “Batman” origin story, comic book, to an artist, and then asked them to make up their own Batman story. b) CSP digital coloring, moving toward the level I see from the best work on DA, pivix ect. c) Make a slide show ( using visual novel software, to add voice overs, and music) d) make a hand drawn animation, ( with CSP: and later, with traditional animation equipment; ie, light box, and animation paper, cels, acrylic paint) e) Make episodes of comics ( 1 of each brand, introducing all my various IP) f) posting illustrations, and preview comics on separate DA, pivix, pages, ( with patreon/subscribe star type pages for each) g) do fan art, lurid versions h) illustrate a classic piece of literature for mainstream; then for lurid i) possibly get poser/daz software, and invest in learning, getting props, building content.

I want to try to make animations – but first I want to get the characters/story, and some comics finished; that are presentable.

A main phase, will be setting up a gallery for the new “titles”, and a wider audience. When I have presentable IP; then I can easily make episodes ( comics). That would be when I could do some commissions, original art, fan -art, and create submission portfolios for specific publishers.

It’s important, that I get original presentable IP, before I work for a publisher ( because I imagine, I will have no time for anything else). My goal for the lurid art genre, is to set up some IP’s that have various levels of rating ( censor ship level; ie, PG, R,NSFW,.. ect)- and use them for storytelling; and leave them open to sales of several digital comics.

Then, do occasional commissions, sell original art; while I develop games, and animations. If I can create a game, with animations, using voice actors, and my art, for each of my IP’s; then have expansions, and related merchandise; I can leave that as a milestone; having accomplished – and move on to try to work for a mainstream publisher. At which point, I can work on my IP, until I am hired, having plenty of art to work on, either way.

Thanks for your kind patronage! Which supports my upcoming work; I sincerely appreciate your interest.

*About:New Upcoming entries – Color Designation ‘Block’:

I may start setting up links, (even before the art is posted to them) designated by the

blue background color ‘block’. This way, indicating when to expect another post. Then, removing the color background for the ‘block’, after the post is up.

Honoring Legends

Witch Blade –

Original Art, inspiration for re drawing, re-imagining & style study.

This was an original piece, I bought, because the style was worth studying, to apply to new lurid illustrations; and interpretations; both the pose, expression; which I can make variants** out of. A 90’s to 2000’s style. that really conveys the idealized line as art form, unique to comics ( in my opinion): stylized figure that is aesthetically idealized ( blend of physique muscularity, and definition), and shading, that utilizes details, and bold contrast. Something that is scarcer now, with the plethora of art, that is designed to be digitally colored, and rendered minimalistically from the outset, lacking details, informed anatomy, and overall impression of not much time on task.

The Witch Blade piece is both inspiration, and point of reference****.

****as are the poseable models (6th scales), toy action figures ( 8th, scale, 10th scale, 12 scale ) , video games, and premium statues (4th scale, ect).

** When I organize templates, and begin making combined ( cut/paste, digital pen “stylus” ) variations, in b/w; the possibilities for variations = line art X color scheme ( which I can take from CSP eye dropper tool***);

*** from both scans and photos of vintage covers from the 40’s to present, including original cels, and page art)

*resize, crop; html pages, links

Covid Anecdote: FMV

I have noticed, alot of items on auction, that are further below fair market value (fmv), than the 6 years prior to the pandemic recessions ( in the U.S. ). So, that is the reason, I acquire items at the rate I have been, since the quarantine lockdowns, and economic crisis of 2020, since Mar. Reaching a nadir, then rising slightly through May, to a pre mature increase in June, then descend in Aug, Sept and Oct ( for many businesses, but not all).

I have made it a point to work on studio art, and post regularly*; there are numerous packages, of recently delivered items, that I can share, from photographs.

It is a unique opportunity – akin to the stock market crashes of history; and I want to return the interest and kind patronage I have received from subscribers like yourself, by acquiring the best references I can conceive of – so that Lurid Max is enabled to aspire to the highest in aesthetics, available in the modern digital/internet self-publishing/ social-media age.

*thus, on weeks where a handful of days were devoted to price/product research/comparison ( for reference material: rare/classic/ iconic/ valuable vintage comics; original animation cel art; toys, models and statues- I want to share the enthusiasm from these reference materials; without taking any more time from studio art than I have to ( to acquire the item, and bring the package inside).

Currently planning to post Thurs Oct 15.

or Fri Oct 16 :

[ coordinating with voice actor; installed 2 Probreeze dehumidifiers in studio/museum; playing Overwatch with skilled pro player ( for possible fan -art development); Arranged east room for access to pieces ( WIP) to detail. Unboxed models, action figures: MOTU classics Teela: Battle Ground; Teela Ultimate Super 7; Evil Lyn Battleground; Evil Lyn Classics; Nancy, Sin City; Batgirl, Showcase Carmen Infantino; Batgirl ThrillKiller DC Elseworlds; Conan, series 1: Svadun, Belit – statue Poison Ivy Statue Exclusive Format Side Show Collectibles delivered. Ordered supplies ( Adam Hughes Vampirella statue 2012 Artist’s Proof Edition ) 200 BCW current boards and bags; Panasonic Eneloop AAA charger 4 batteries ( for 2 acurite Hygrometers); Marvel Captain Marvel Shield PVC statue; – register product warranties.

No foreseeable tasks, for several days: planning to do studio art, and script development over next 2 weeks. I have alot of ideas for illustrations, game structure, costumes, dialogue that I want to get down on paper, and post soon. Thanks for your interest!

Weds Oct 14 – to Weekly Oct 1 ;

* beginning New entry designation, color block: this is a setup of a link, of a planned post. When it is posted, I will remove the background color ‘block’. More about it below.

Story Telling

Not everyone has to agree. The beauty of humanity, is different view points*. But I do feel a responsibility to express mine, with all the talents I have been blessed, and share them, in a way others can understand.

*( whether they agree or not isn’t the key: the key is exercising the discipline, doing the work, putting in the effort, thought, time on task, to create writing, art and music, that conveys my voice).

As Kevin Smith said, your voice is the one thing you can offer to the world, that no one else can. Your voice, is priceless.

This is what I passionately and enthusiastically work toward, developing with my art projects, here; and elsewhere.

Covid – 19 anecdote

Last week I had an interesting encounter with a person in the street. 2 girls, who behaved like sisters, approx 14 and 9 were standing on the opposite side of the sandy dirt road, which I walk my dog. I realized I would pass them, since they weren’t walking; the younger girl kept jumping up on the back of the older, who was standing aside a bike and pointing to the ground, and jumping, or gesturing emphatically; from 200 feet away, it looked like they could either be pointing at a snake, or playing. I became engrossed in deleting political text messages from my cel, but the older girl greeted me, indirectly, complimenting my dog ( generally the appearance, a hearty smile – like Scooby Doo). I replied, my dog is over 11 years old, and we don’t know how much longer she has, so I make it a point to walk her, and pay some attention to her each day. What surprised me, was the maturity and insightfulness of this ? 13 – 14 year old girl’s response. She replied, she had a dog that was over 11 years old and that since she was getting old, she and her family were also aware her dog might not be around much longer.

After seeing the news regularly for a days, in the social media, and the controversy, over contested facts, and view points, by masses of adults, still in disagreement over major facts. It was refreshing, to hear a stranger, express similar observations (given the divisive atmosphere, with political campaign signs, on lawns, and a sense of being surrounded by many who share a view point, that implies ignorance, and racial callousness, if not contempt for entire groups of ethnicities).

Adaptations

(image above : reimagined template CSP color ( WIP ) A. This is practicing CSP digital color and digital ‘rearranging ( erase, add lines, cut, paste, rotate, adding logo) The line art is straight from the scan of the original Witch Blade art, I rearranged it, as a template, to convey a composition idea; which I can later recognize, and redraw on paper, and ink by hand ( then later color)posted 1:03 am this reflects roughly 8 hours of time on CSP ( most of rearranging the scan, I began coloring around 10:30pm: approx 2 and 1/2 hours coloring on CSP: have more color layers conceived, I don’t consider it finished; but I need to sleep. Hopefully, I can continue developing CSP color, for this, the Apocrypha, and new pieces that are being detailed for inking. Although, my priority is to get ideas, costumes, scenes, dialogue, names, – IP content; down, in rough, before embellishing; I want to see some pieces more developed than the rough idea sketches. ).

Gratitude

The gratitude I feel at the support I receive from subscribers, is unexpressible; so I do my best, creating, and posting in kind.

Thanks so much!